NGC 717 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids NGC 717 |
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PanSTARRS image of NGC 717
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| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Andromeda |
| Right ascension | 01h 53m 55.1s |
| Declination | 36° 13′ 46″ |
| Redshift | 0.016571 |
| Helio radial velocity | 4968 km/s |
| Distance | 210 Mly (64.4 Mpc) |
| Group or cluster | Abell 262 |
| Type | S0/a |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 1.3 x 0.2 |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 14.86 |
| Other designations | |
| MCG 6-5-41, PGC 7033, UGC 1363 | |
| See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies | |
NGC 717 is a fascinating galaxy found in the constellation called Andromeda. It's a special type of galaxy known as a lenticular galaxy. A scientist named Bindon Blood Stoney first saw this galaxy on October 28, 1850.
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About NGC 717
NGC 717 is a galaxy, which is a huge group of stars, gas, and dust. These are all held together by gravity. Our own galaxy is the Milky Way. NGC 717 is quite far away from us. It is about 64.4 million light-years from Earth.
What is a Lenticular Galaxy?
NGC 717 is a lenticular galaxy. This means it looks like a mix between two other types of galaxies. It has a bright central bulge, like an elliptical galaxy. But it also has a flat disk, like a spiral galaxy. However, it does not have the swirling spiral arms that spiral galaxies have.
Scientists think that lenticular galaxies might be old spiral galaxies. They may have used up most of their gas and dust. This means they don't form many new stars anymore.
Where is NGC 717 Located?
NGC 717 is located in the Andromeda constellation. A constellation is a group of stars that seem to form a pattern in the night sky. People have imagined these patterns for thousands of years. The Andromeda constellation is named after a princess in Greek mythology.
Even though it's in the Andromeda constellation, NGC 717 is much, much farther away than the stars that make up the constellation itself. Those stars are relatively close to us. NGC 717 is part of a larger group of galaxies. This group is called Abell 262.
Who Discovered NGC 717?
The galaxy NGC 717 was discovered by Bindon Blood Stoney. He was an Irish astronomer and engineer. He found this galaxy on October 28, 1850. Stoney worked with his uncle, William Parsons. Parsons had a very large telescope at his home. This telescope was called the "Leviathan of Parsonstown." It was one of the biggest telescopes in the world at that time. Using such powerful tools helped astronomers find many new objects in space.
